American Power, The Music

American Power won the 2011 Prix Pictet award, whereupon Epstein was invited to present the project that July at Les Rencontres d’Arles. To broaden his perspective on his own work, he asked musician Erik Friedlander to collaborate. Friedlander composed music inspired by the American Power pictures; and on a July night in a Roman amphitheater, Friedlander performed his music on the cello in tandem with Mitch, who narrated the project’s history, while behind them the photographs were projected on a cinematic screen.

The 500 hand-numbered albums are signed by both artists, and feature 6 new solo cello compositions, gate-fold artwork by Mitch Epstein, as well as a two-sided, 24x36 inch poster of Epstein’s photographs and the handwritten score.